“Can I get you a drink?” the flight attendant asked.
“Definitely champagne.”
The woman smiled politely as she passed a champagne flute. Probably thought that was what Maggie always drank. She didn’t care. She was celebrating.
Once the plane took off, Maggie fell asleep. She didn’t wake until it was time to land. Thankfully, a driver was waiting for her in arrivals, and they were soon in the car, heading for the turnpike.
Maggie stared out of the window at the familiar landmarks. A sense of homecoming filled her heart. She couldn’t wait to see Emily and Tracy.
She couldn’t wait to see Jake, either. She was tired of waiting for him to realize what they had together was special. Time to stop allowing the past to deny them the chance of a wonderful future. Maggie let her head drop back and closed her eyes. She fell asleep planning what she’d say to him.
She woke as the car stopped. It took a moment to realize the Victorian they’d stopped in front of wasn’t Tracy’s. Her heart jolted. She started to tell the driver he’d made a mistake, but the words died in her throat as Jake stepped forward and opened the door.
“Welcome home, Maggie.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
MAGGIE STARED AT Jake’s hand as he offered to help her out of the car, but didn’t move.
His smile wavered. “Do you want Chuck to take you to Tracy’s house?”
The uncertainty in his expression cut through the shock that had immobilized her.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll stay.” She put her hand in his, savoring the warmth and strength of his grip. “For now.”
“Thank you.” Jake touched his lips to her fingers, sending a tingle through her, then released her. “Go on in. I’ll get your bag.”
As she climbed the steps, Jake took her carry-on from the driver and palmed him a tip.
Maggie paced the entrance hall. This had to be a good sign, didn’t it? He wouldn’t bring her here to tell her they had no future. Would he?
Jake closed the front door and put her bag at the foot of the stairs. The scene had a cozy familiarity to it, as if they’d done it a hundred times before. Wishful thinking.
“I should let Tracy know I’m here.” She unbuttoned her coat. “When I called her from the airport, I said I wouldn’t be long.”
“She knows.”
Maggie arched an eyebrow. “My sister let you kidnap me?”
Jake massaged the back of his neck. “She wanted to help an idiot man apologize.”
Her pulse skipped. “I see.”
The conversation died to awkward silence as they stood, trying to read each other.
“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable and I’ll make you some tea?”
“All right.” She laid her coat over the banister.
Heat flared in his eyes as he saw her red suit, giving her a boost of confidence she didn’t know she needed. Suddenly, she felt in control again.
“I’ll wait in the den.”
Jake nodded. “I won’t be long.”
She walked down the hall, putting an extra swing in her hips.
In the den, her confidence faltered. Memories of their last conversation...argument...disaster flashed through her mind. Hopefully, they’d exorcise that specter shortly.
She turned on table lamps to brighten the room in the fading afternoon light. Deliberately, she sat in Jake’s leather armchair, kicked off her shoes and curled her legs under her.
Jake entered a few minutes later and handed her a mug of tea. She smiled—he’d made it just as she liked it.
He sat on the sofa, resting his elbows on his thighs and staring into the steaming mug he cradled in his hands as if it held the meaning of the universe.
Maggie sipped her tea and waited.
“Jenny told me what you did. How you believed in me.” He exhaled heavily and looked up, meeting her gaze. “Thank you doesn’t seem enough.”
“You were innocent. It was only a matter of time before they uncovered the truth.”
“How much would it have damaged me, my integrity, in the meantime? The suspicion would never have gone away. People would have always questioned whether there was any truth in the story.”
“Not the people who know you.”
“Maybe.” Jake shrugged. “Anyway, thanks to you, I don’t have to worry about that. My career and reputation are safe.”
“What happens next?”
“The investigators verify the information, but that shouldn’t take long.”
“Good. The sooner you can put it behind you, the better. Then you can focus on playing hockey and winning the Cup.” And me, she added silently.
“Yeah.” His voice resonated with unspoken emotion.
He must be thinking of his friend. “I’m sorry about Adam.”